- The Chilean Government and the IAEA have signed an agreement to address environmental challenges, focusing on microplastics in marine environments through the NUTEC Plastics initiative, which uses nuclear and isotopic techniques to study and combat plastic pollution in Antarctica.
- The project will investigate the occurrence and impact of microplastics in the Antarctic ecosystem, using techniques such as radiolabeling and isotopic fingerprinting to trace the origins and movements of microplastics and assess their environmental effects.
- Additionally, an agreement was signed to use nuclear technology for enhancing lithium mining in Chile, with discussions ongoing about developing a nuclear energy program to further support Chile’s development in various sectors, including health, food security, and the environment.
The Chilean Government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have signed an agreement to cooperate in addressing environmental challenges, particularly the issue of microplastics in marine environments. The agreement marks the beginning of the NUTEC Plastics initiative, which uses nuclear and isotopic techniques to produce data on marine microplastics distribution and combat plastic pollution. The aim is to “study microplastic pollution in Antarctica, aiming to trace origins and impacts to develop strategies against it,” says IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.
The project will assess the impact of microplastics by investigating their occurrence and distribution in seawater, lakes, sediments, sand, and animals in the Antarctic ecosystem. The presence of microplastics contributes to accelerating ice loss in Antarctica by reducing ice reflectivity, promoting microbial activity, acting as thermal insulators, and weakening the ice structure.
The IAEA developed this technology in 2020. It uses a series of monitoring laboratories equipped with nuclear technology to sample and analyze microplastics, which are bits of plastic less than 5 millimeters in diameter in the environment. One such technique is called radiolabeling, which involves tagging plastics with radioactive isotopes. By introducing these labeled plastics into marine environments, researchers can track their movement, degradation, and accumulation over time using radiation detection equipment. Another technique is referred to as isotopic fingerprinting, which involves analyzing the isotopic ratios of elements within microplastics to trace their sources. For example, the carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions can help identify the origin of plastic and differentiate between natural and anthropogenic sources.
Some IAEA accredited studies suggest that only 10% of plastic produced between 1950 and 2015 has been recycled, with the majority (about 60%) going to landfill. Action is imperative given estimates that there will be one ton of plastic for every three tons of fish within a few years. Governments must implement measures designed to reduce the sources of the pollution. At least 30 countries are involved in developing innovative recycling technology, including using irradiation to treat plastics and make them fit for reuse, or for a wider range of reuses. This includes using gamm and electron beam radiation technologies, which break down plastic polymers into smaller components so they can be used to generate new plastics.
Furthermore, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission’s Luis Huerta signed an agreement to use nuclear technology to enhance the mining of lithium. Lithium has uses in a range of energy sectors, including fusion and “paves the way for wider regional support from IAEA.” Chile does not currently have nuclear power; however, there have been discussions about developing a nuclear energy program. Grossi said: “Nuclear science boosts Chile’s development in areas like health, food, security and environment. I look forward to furthering our collaboration.”